Six tourists arrested for drugs at “rave’

KANCHANABURI (AFP): Six foreign tourists have been arrested on drugs charges after a raid on a “Black Moon” party at a campsite in this western province, police said today. More than 100 backpackers were netted in the crackdown on an all-night “rave” at a local holiday spot. Police swooped on the site early on Thursday, seizing ecstasy pills and marijuana. They then screened the partygoers for drug use. “Initially more than 100 of them were detained, but we wanted to be fair so we arrested only those who were found by scientific testing to have taken drugs,” said Pol Col Samran Srisawas. One US citizen, four Israelis and a Greek national were charged with taking first-grade drugs and face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, he said. They were due to appear in court today. Another rave was held at the site on New Year’s Eve but police suspicions that the gatherings were “drug parties” were not confirmed until an undercover officer infiltrated the latest party, held on the night of the new moon.